water make alternator be a bad boy?

[Psych0matt]

Basically, coming home from a meeting at work and it was pulling a volt or two under normal (started at around 12, by the time i got home was hovering around 13. normally im around 13.5 or so) It's been raining all afternoon. should I be worried? Is this normal?

 

(alt has less than 1k on it, if it goes, I'll be royally pissed, as the two ago only had 1 year on it, which was about 5 or 6k probably, the last had less than 2k, and this one is about a month old)

[94CutlassSLCoupe]

it it was sitting on 13, espeically with the headlights on, I'd say its fine for the time being. If it wasn't working the voltage would be the same if not less than when you just flip the key to run without starting the engine

[19Cutlass94]

Well water and electrical parts done get alone very well at all. It is possible, but I would not worry if your running 13.5v. If your runnin in the 12v range, then Id start to worry.

[Psych0matt]

well, right after startup it was around 11.8 or so, and then worked its way up within 5 minutes or so to mid twelves, and then was between 12.4 or so and about 13.3

[94CutlassSLCoupe]

12.4-13.3 is what i get on the DIS on my car with the headlights on

[Psych0matt]

hmmm, i did have my headlights on, when i usually just have running lights (with fogs) on. Ill check again if i go out later.

[19Cutlass94]

12.4-13.3 is what i get on the DIS on my car with the headlights on

 

That seems awful low.

[94CutlassSLCoupe]

not at idle with the lights on...my car has always been like that

[19Cutlass94]

My car never goes below 13.6v, even with the amp on.

 

 

hmmm, i did have my headlights on, when i usually just have running lights (with fogs) on. Ill check again if i go out later.

 

I have noticed that there is a big voltage difference between having the fog lights on vs off.

[Psych0matt]

I have noticed that there is a big voltage difference between having the fog lights on vs off.

 

I almost always have my fogs on (driving lights, not factory), but i didnt think headlights would pull that much of a difference [br]Posted on: May 10, 2006, 09:37:50 PM_________________________________________________

My car never goes below 13.6v, even with the amp on.

 

 

That's usually around where mine sits

[SigEpCutlass]

Do you ever drive longer distances? I find that because I only drive 10 miles a day max, that sometimes my battery voltage dips because I don't give the alt enough time to recharge before turning the car off again. I usually take a longer drive, and then it fixes itself.

[Psych0matt]

my trip to/from work is about 15 minutes. Anyhow. today it was right back to normal hovering around 13.7 or so, maxing out around 14.2 or 3.

[NeonKnight]

get a new battery if yours is old, maybe it needs some new fluid in it?

 

i would bet your battery is getting old... if not that then you just have a draw on your electrical system, and yes fog lights love to draw power. you could also have a light that is taking more volts than it should, parasitic ground somwhere. could be a bunch of things.

 

We all know the charging system in these cars are not very good, especially the first gen...

 

Have you done the big 3 upgrade?

 

try that

[Psych0matt]

alternator is brand new, battery was brand new in july (the same day the engine died, so it sat for the winter, but otherwise its new) But like I said, it was normal today, I think it might have just been exceptionally wet yesterday or something

[19Cutlass94]

Well if the battery was sitting for that long ( and its not an Optima or anything of the like ) it probably needed to be re-charged, and by running the car it eventually got re-charged.

[Psych0matt]

(The car has been running daily for the last 3 and a half weeks, this just happened last night)

[19Cutlass94]

nvm then.